Graduation

Sorry it has been so long since I have updated my blog.  I really don't have much of an excuse.

Thursday, June 6, was the last day of the school year and I had the "pleasure" of going to graduation.  Actually I didn't mind, the kids I student taught as 7th graders were graduating, so this has always been a special class for me.  When it came to graduation, I think I had the best seat in the house, right in front of an interrupter for a deaf person.  I have always enjoyed watching people use sign language, and this was no different.  It started out simple, with the interrupter and the deaf lady chatting before the ceremony began.

When it came time for the National Anthem, it was almost an emotional experience for me.  I love the National Anthem, but I don't know if I have really paid attention to the words in a long time.  This time I was listening to the words, and focusing on the sign for each word and it was amazing.  I could tell this guy was very good, he had lots of emotion and facial expression during the songs and speeches he was interrupting.  My favorite part was when he did the sign for rockets.  The picture is of him during a speech, since would be standing during the National Anthem.  If you have never seen the Star Spangled Banner signed, I suggest you watch the video, I happen to think it is amazing...and this video is nothing compared to the guy at graduation.

Election 2012

So on Tuesday, Nov 6, 2012...I finally did something I have tried to do for the last two elections.... VOTE.  I know, I'm a history teacher how could I have never voted?  I have ok excuses, but non that really mean anything, mainly I didn't care in the last election.  This year, even though I again did not have strong feelings for the people running for president I did have a decent opinion for my Representative in Congress.  One person running wanted to pretty much get rid of the Department of Education, as a teacher that scared me.  So I mainly voted for that reason, and the person I wanted won.

What scares me is the reaction people have had over the outcome of the election.  I understand that I live in a very Republican state, so most of the state was disappointed in the outcome of the election.  But I heard all kinds of statements from my students that shocked me.  I know they only said it because they heard it at home.  I had to explain to several students that even if Romney had won that President Obama, would still be president until Jan.  They were in total shock...and were still planning on moving to Canada.  Others were bragging that Obama won, then I would ask them why they liked Obama and they couldn't come up with anything real.  Sometimes I worry about our future.

Back to School

It's official, summer is over.  Tomorrow starts the first day of the 2012-2013 school year.  Honestly I have mixed emotions...the biggest pain will be when my alarm goes off tomorrow morning at the crack of dawn.  I really don't know why I picked a profession that would require me to get up early when I am NOT a morning person at all.  After I get up, it takes me forever to actually wake up.  I hope my body adjusts quickly or these first few weeks are going to be painful.

Last week was spent "preparing for the new year", which is code for a massive amount of meetings. I have not finished putting my room together because I didn't have time, I even came in an extra day and I'm still not ready.  Thankfully Monday is late start so I have a little bit of extra time to finish everything up before students start showing up.

One good thing is....it is football season.  Even though my team struggles at football, I love going to football games.  I really wish more students and teachers would realize how much fun it is.

Let the Countdown begin/Master's

I am normally not the teacher that is counting down to the end of school super early, this has been kind of a rough year; so I'm counting down.  We are under 25 school days left until the end of school, and I can't wait.  Not that I have anything exciting to do, I just want to have a change.  In fact this summer I taking a history class and a couple of online classes to give me professional development credit.  My summer is already looking pretty busy.

I have been considering going back to school to get a Master's degree.  I'm debating two different routes. 1. An online degree that is fast and fairly cheap, it would be in some kind of education field.  Bonus, I don't think I would have to take out any loans if I go this direction.  2. Getting a master's in school counseling.  Counseling would be the harder, more intensive, and more expensive route...but it would give me a different option down the road in my career.  A counseling degree requires an internship, so I think if I do that, I would have to leave teaching for at least a semester.  I'm afraid of not getting a job again, it's scary. I know I need to start working on a degree, I could start option one almost immediately, but option two is at least a year down the road.  I hate making decision!!!!

Go Warriors!!

My school struggles with most sports, it is hard to get any better because most athletes choose to go to a different school. Anyways tonight we played our rival and our football team won. We played amazing and we had a great turn out from the students. It is a huge game for us to win, not only was it our rival game, but next week is homecoming...maybe we can get a winning streak going. I think the students are actually excited about football for the first time in a long time.

Back to School

Tomorrow starts the first day back to school for teachers. This week will be full of meetings and putting back together my classroom. Although I'm not excited to have to get up early again, it will be nice to be busy again. After my work day, I have tennis practice. This will also be the first week tennis will be in the afternoon. For the last two weeks we have been practicing in the mornings, but we have to get used to playing in the heat. Wish me luck...

Spring in Utah

Update: last Saturday it was 75 degrees when I went to General Conference, thanks Jensen's for my AWESOME seat. We were on the bottom floor right in the middle, I'm not going to get any better of seats unless we have some one in the family become an apostle. On the walk back to the car we saw Satan, and some guy drove by and called us "losers" it was fun. I love the protesters at conference. I then went down to my sister's and woke up to EIGHT inches of snow. WOW, where did that come from? Then it has pretty much rained/snowed all week this week. Spring kills me, one day it is BEAUTIFUL then it is followed by several really bad days of terrible weather. Awesome huh?

This last week was tough at school, we had to cancel one tennis match because it was raining/lightening/hailing...that means that next week I'm going to have four tennis matches. I don't know how I feel about that, but I guess that will help the season move along. Their is only two months left of school and I can't wait for summer to come. I have some fun stuff planned this summer and I can't wait for it to come.

Busy Beaver

It is odd what this time of the year is so busy for me, I'm not coach or anything in the winter. Some how though I almost always feel over whelmed this time of the year. I guess I do pick up a part time job during the winter, I run the scoreboard and varsity girls basketball games at my school. It isn't bad, I get $35 a game, before taxes. So if they have a bunch of home games in a row, like what is coming up, then I feel like I'm super busy. I'm also getting ready for the spring tennis season, I will be coaching the boys tennis team. I have been kind of stressing out about it, because I don't know enough about tennis to coach the boys, but I think I just found someone to help me out this season. If he can run practice and I can do all the paper work that would be AWESOME. The big news recently is that I have taught for three years now, which means that I have some paperwork and some hoops to jump through, but then I should be a level two teacher!!! Becoming a level two teacher is kind of a big deal....so I really should get on some of the stuff I need to do. Well I guess I have rested long enough, time to get back to work.

Teacher Skit

This year I was asked to participate in the teacher skit performed during the homecoming assembly. We tossed around some different ideas, but we settled on the teachers "trying out" for the cheer leading squad. I'm not exactly sure how, but it turned into a boys v. girls thing, we thought the guys were going to cream us because they are guys. But when it came down to it, we creamed them, they didn't plan much and we practiced for two days. We had a funny cheer, a dance, and a stunt (of course it helped that we had the cheerleader coach on our team). All day Friday kids all around school were telling how funny it was and that I was the "best" cheerleader. I don't know if that is true, but it was fun either way